The subject of toddlers and food is so very, very boring.
My kids eats this. My kid eats that. My kid eats nothing. When I first gave The Poo solid foods she ate everything with abandon. Peas, broccoli, roasted chicken slick with basting butter. I smiled smugly when friends and strangers remarked on her healthy appetite and sophisticated palate. The child herself resembled nothing more than a juicy Butterball turkey, all rolls and chubby knees.
Today at a fast-food joint I ordered the umpteenth grilled cheese sandwich and wondered where it all went so terribly wrong.
I know I’m not alone, I know many of you reading this right now are nodding your heads in empathy. He only eats chicken. She only eats pizza. They only eat beef and broccoli from the local Chinese food restaurant.
But those aren’t my kids. I can sympathize with you, but I agonize over my own predicament.
Over the past year The Poo’s diet has whittled down to three or four items, all of which are rife with processed ingredients and white flour. As of today, this moment, she will eat homemade macaroni and cheese (and I have to make it, she will accept no other chef), frozen waffles, grilled cheese and french fries. I made homemade fries last week as a side dish and the kid ate the whole bowl.
That’s right - she won’t even eat peanut butter. Or jelly. Or cream cheese with jam. Or strawberries for $5 a pint in the dead of a prairie winter. The kid won’t try a piece of toast.
My doctor seems to believe this is perfectly normal and perfectly acceptable, and advised me to cut juice out of her diet. Is she kidding? If I did that, the child would never have even a trace of natural foodstuffs in her body!
It doesn’t help that her daddy eats foods limited to those that are white, yellow and brown. The man was 33 years old before he ate a green vegetable willingly, and only did so at the urging of his mother.
I’m totally taking advantage of this forum to beg for your advice. Have you faced down a picky eater? Have you won even a skirmish? Because I am losing this battle, friends. The girl won’t even consent to a vegetable on her plate. What is this veggie-loving mama to do?
Photo courtesy of Muffett, used under a Creative Commons License.
[tags]kids, eating, picky, nutrition, advice[/tags]
5 responses so far ↓
mcewen // Feb 20, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Ooo that dish is so attractive [to me] but not my brood. Indeed one of mine is neophobic.
Neowhaty? That means he eats less than 20 foods. He used to eat only 3 foods. Believe me, the’picky eater’ I know inside out.
Here am I with principles of ‘organic’ and ‘buy local’ and ‘home made’ and I have a guy who could exist on goldfish and fresh air from now until he’s 21.
Cheers
Mike // Feb 20, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Put a small amount of all the different foods you plan on eating during a meal on her plate. Make sure that includes some of the stuff she likes and then also includes the green vegies, etc that you want her to eat. Nothing else gets added to the plate until she either tries all the other food or actually eats it. She won’t starve. She’ll probably complain a few times, but even are picky daughter is getting used to it and learned that “dirty spaghetti” (spaghetti noodles with something actually on them) are not that bad.
Stu Mark // Feb 20, 2007 at 6:50 pm
At our house, I use a subtle system. For every certain type of food that they refuse to eat, I remove its polar opposite. So, if they won’t eat a veg, they don’t get a sweetie at their next request. It teaches balance, fairness, and nutrition.
Now, I’m not an ogre. They can pick their own vegetable or fruit. I only draw the line at eating “something” nutritious. So, my kids are now really into corn and broccoli and apples and carrots and strawberries and cherries and grapes. And, because they were cool about getting in the game, they get the reward of both the sweet, desert-thing, but also their parents gratefulness and glee.
Your mileage may vary. Use only as directed or when in consultation with a doctor. Do not taunt Super-Happy Fun Ball.
Whitney // Feb 20, 2007 at 11:40 pm
I have the same problem- we work on the tasting rule- must taste it. Gradual improvements are being made. (James ate pesto as a baby, won’t get near it now…. Argh.) And I belong to a CSA every year, so it’s not as if they aren’t exposed to the best fresh veggies available…
Kids seem to come back with their new favorites from friends houses, so maybe the answer is farming them out to others! I hear they need between 10 and 20 exposures before adopting a new food, so perhaps there’s still hope.
Emmie (Better Make It A Double) // Mar 14, 2007 at 12:33 am
Amalah just wrote a post about the same issue here:
http://www.amalah.com/amalah/2007/03/dcfoodie_jr.html
She got lots of detailed responses, some of which may be helpful to you. I’m enjoying your writing!
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